Automatic control of washing and other machines



April 16, 1940. A. P. BROCKBANK AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF WAS HING 'AND OTHER MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filedfipne 27, 1958 Zgm/eafpn Y April 16, 1940. A. P. BROCKBANK 2,197,294

I AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF WASHING AND OTHER UACHINES Filed June 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC F WASHING AND OTHER- MA OHINES.

Allan Peile nmkbsnk. Peterboroush, England,

alsignor to Baker Perkins limited, Peterborough. England Application June 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,156 In Great Britain July 22, 1937- 9 0mm. (Cl. sci-101) This invention relates to automatic controls and automatic mechanism for washing or other machines or plant in reference to which it is necessary to deliver predetermined quantities 'oi liq- 5. uid at predetermined times, and has more particular reference to plants of the character wherein valve controlled pipe lines supply various liquids, other than water, to a common pipe leadms to a measuring device or chamber such for example as described in prior U. S.--Serial No.

121,914 filed January 22, 1937, in the .name 01 David Yeo Bartholomew Tanqueray.

According to U. 3. Serial No. 121,914,. the various solutions such as soap, soda, bleach and blue are delivered through valve controlled pipe lines to a common pipe or manii'old. leading through a flow-meter or pump to the washing drum or the like, the opening of the valves at predetermined times being under the control of a m rotary control device which is driven at a predetermined time rate except when a liquid delivery operation has been initiated whereupon the meter through which the liquid is delivered takes over the drive of the control device to drive it as at a rate corresponding with the rate 01' delivery of liquid and such meter driveis terminated when the predetermined quantity of liquid has been delivered.

It will be appreciated that upon termination of delivery of a solution according to the above common'pipe and this residual solution will be delivered upon initiation of the next solution delivery operation. It will thus be appreciated that although the actual quantity of solution delivered is the predetermined quantity, such solution con- 1 49 tains the residual solution from the previous delivery which may be a diiierent kind. Hence, it

can be said that the measurement of any one kind of solution is not altogether accurate since the actual amount of any one solution delivered at a time 'is the predetermined quantity less the amount of residual solution left irom the previous delivery. It will also be seen that the carrying over of the residual solution to the next delivery operation may be detrimental to the washing 5 process. For example, in a washing process it is usual to deliver blue to the washing drum in the final rinsing step and the delivery of residual soap or soda with the blue obviously would be undesirable for the rinsing operation. Furthermore the leavingpf certain solutions in a meter overnight or for lengthy periods may have a'detri mental eflect on the meter. I

1 The objects of the invention are to obtaina more accurate measurement of the quantities of solution; to ensure that all the measuredquan- I?" tity 01' solution is delivered through the meter and reaches the washing drum or the like at the proper time, i. e., so that it is not carried over to the I next operation or process: and to minimise corrosion in the meters. I

The invention consists in delivering through the common pipe or manifold and the measuring device -or meter a quantity of flushing watenaiter each solution delivery operation. v

The delivery of the flushing water may take place through a valved pipe leading to the common pipe or manifold the valve being under the control of a timing or rotary control device such as that described in the patent specification numbered as above. I a

' There may be a tendency for liquid remaining in the meter and manifold after a delivery op-'- eration, to escape from the meter (without operq ating it) due to ingress of air iromtheldelivery side of the meter. This occurrence may aflect Q3,

livered through the common pipe or manifold. 3o

This valve may be opened and closed at the re- 1 quired times under the direct control of the rotary control device or means may be provided whereby this valve is operated whenever a solu-.

tion delivery valve oz'the flushing water valve is operated.

Convenient embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in, whichz Figure -1 is a diagrammatic view 0! an au 0 matic control for a washing machine; and

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modified manner of controlling the valve in the delivery pipe from the solution meter.

In carrying the invention into eiiect accordingto one convenient mode illustrated in Figure 14 as applied by way' of example to an automatic control for washing machines and to the arrangement described in the specification of U. 8. Serial w No. 121,914, a meter I through which hot, and cold water is adapted to be delivered and a smaller meter 2 through which the various solutions are adapted to be delivered. together with driving means between these meters, 9. motor and a tim- '5 ing. or rotary control device, maybe arranged as described in the prior specification referred to as may also be the operating means between the rotary control device and the various valves controlled thereby. Thus, an electric motor I is adapted to drive ata predetermined time rate, through reduction gearing including a tree wheel clutch,-a spindle I carrying a contact plate or disc I forming the main 'elementoithe timing or rotary control device." This spindle A is adapted also to be driven by either otthe twozmeters. through reduction gearing including a free wheel clutch. The contact plate is adapted to receive a perforated or slotted record card 8 of known form, the slots or perforations 0! which are of predetermined position and circumferential length according to the nature and cycle of operations to be performed, and is wired to constitute. a-common terminal oi electric circuits involved,

in the controlling operations. As shown the contact plate [is connected by means of a finger .terminal'or brush 1, through wire 8, switch plate I andwire II, which may include a fuse iL-to. one side of a source oi. current supply A. Go-

operating with the slotted card i is a radial arm pli carryinga plurality of finger terminals or contacts um '22 adapted to establish the various electric circuitswith the contact plate-i through the respective slots in the. record card 8.

A supply pipe 2: fOl hot water and a supply lpipe 24 for cold water respectively, having a motor or relay operated valve 2!, 28 therein, Join in I a common supply pipe 21 leading to the larger fiow meter l which is adapted to be actuated by the flow of hot or cold water delivered there-.' through to a delivery pipe leading to the washing machine (not shown). r v

Supply pipes 20, 30, and ii for delivering the various solutions; such as soap, soda, and blue, are respectively provided 'witha motor or relay operated valve 82, I3, and 34 and lead to a comnlon pipe or manifold ll, conveniently having a glass front 30, from which the solutions are adapted to be delivered through a common pipe TI in which the smaller meter 2 is located so that the fiow of liquid from these supply pipes actuates the meter as it passes therethrough to the delivery pipe "leading to the. washing ma-i chine.

The various supply valves referred to and also other valves for example a motor orrelay operated valve to controlling supply oi steam through pipe 3! adapted to deliver directly to the washing machine and a motor or relay operated outlet .ram ll, may be controlled directly by the electric circuits established under control ofjthe timing --or-ro tary control device comprising the contact plate I, the slotted record card I and the finger terminals I! to 22, or they may be controlled through relay devices operated by suclneircuits.

As illustrated the valves, which may be or known type are adapted-to be opened by fiuid under pressure supplied from headers or maniiolds ll and 42 under control of magnetic control valves adapted to be in turn controlled by the electric circuits established'under control or the rotary control device.

. Thus, there are magnetic control valves 43 and N' respectively for controlling the delivery of fiuid under pressure to the hot and cold water supply Avalves 2i and 16 through conduits 45 and 4C, magnetic control valves-l1, and 49.

for controlling delivery of fluid under pressure respectively'to the soda; soap and blue supply valves 33, 32 and "through conduits 50, SI and an appropriate slot in the record card '6 for co- ;at a rate corresponding with the rate 01 fiow of liquid through the meter. v

7 II to H whereby a circuit is established through 82, and magnetic control valves 53- and It for respectively controlling the delivery of fiuid under pressure to the steam supply valve 3| through conduit 85 and the outlet ram 4| through conduit is. One side ot-each oi the solenoids of s the magnetic control valves 43, ll, 41, ll,- 49, 53 and 54 is wired to one side of the source of current supply A through a common wire 51 while the other side of each of the solenoids is wired mom 0! thefinger terminals II to It. Thus the solenoid oi magnetic valve 49 is connected finger terminal II by wire SI, that of magnetic valve ll is connected to finger terminal I4 by wire ii; that or magnetic valve 41 is connected to finger terminal II by wire that of magnetic valve 44 is connected to finger terminal is by wire ii; that of magnetic valve isiconnected {to finger terminal H by wire i2, while those of lnagnetic-valves i3 and 84 are respectively connected to finger terminals l8 and I! by wires i3 and 84. Conveniently, a panel is providedhaving a series of plug-in sockets 6i permanently wired to the solenoids of the magnetic valves, while the wires 58 to 64 may each be provided with a Jack for selectively plugging into the sockets whereby the magnetic valve which any one finger terminal 13 to I! is to control may be selected by plugging the jack connected to such finger terminal into the appropriate socket l5. The fingerterminal II is connected through wire ii to a lamp I whereby a circuit may be established through the lamp, for example,. to' give a visible indication when a particular cycle of operations has been completed, by providing operation with the finger terminal 2 I.

- The electric circuits adapted tocontrol the supply valves ior'the liquids each include the v coil of a relay switch adapted to be operated when a circuit is established to break the cir- 4o cult oi the electric motor 3 so that the drive of the control device by the motor is interrupted to permit one or other 01' the meters I or- 2 to take over the drive and drive the control device The motor circuit is as follows: Supply mains 13, wire 6!, motor winding ll, lead H, closed contacts of motor relay switch l2,andreturn lead .13 to thesupplymeans B.- The motor relay 50 switch It is held closed when its coil I4 is energised by the establishment of the following cirg respectively connected by wires ll to '3 to the wires 58 to 62 leading to the finger terminals one of the coils 11a to open its relay switch 11 and so open the motor relay switch 12 to interrupt the motor circuit whenever any one of the finger terminals ii to II controlling the opening i or the liquid supply valves contacts with the disc 1 or plate 5 through a slot in the record card I.

A supply pipe N for water,-prei'erably hot, is provided which leads to the common pipe or manifold 35 through which the various solutions are delivered this supply pipe being provided 7 with a motor or relay operated valve II adapted to be controlled by the rotary control' device so I as to deliver a predetermined quantity of water to the washing "in the meter is minimised.

through the manifold "and meter 2 after each solution deliveryoperation. As shown the valve 85 is adapted to he opened by fluid under pressure supplied through conduit II from header 42 under control of a magnetic control valve 21'.

. One side of the solenoid of the magnetic control 10 is comparatively small-and may be negligible as compared with the amount of water used in a washing step, Howeverto compensate there for the amounts of hot and/or cold water-dc ll'veredthrough the larger meter may be correspondingly reduced by providing the appropriate slotsintherecord card; v

Residual liquid left in the meter 2 and maniiold 35 may escape through the meter to the washing drum due to backflow of airthrough the meter and manifold from the delivery pipe 7 to the washing drum and this may cause slight inaccuracies in measurement of liquid to occur 7 for the meter 2 may conceivably measure a small quantity or air during the next solution delivery operation. In order to prevent this escape a relay operated valve 20 is inserted inthe' delivery pipe to the washing drum adjacent the outlet from the meter and this valve which may'qconveniently be termed the meter valve is, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1; controlled by the control device to open and close at the appropriate times. Thus, the valve 89 is adapted to be opened by fluid under pressure supplied through conduit 99 from header 2 under control of a magnetic control valve 9| one side of the solenoidvoifwhich is connected to finger terminal 22 by wire 82 while the other side of the solenoid isconnected to the common wire 57. Q Normally, a small quantity oi water will re-- main in the manifold "and thesmaller. meter 2 and will berprevented from escaping fromthe meter by the closed valve 22 immediately adJacent the meter outlet. Assuming hot to berdelivered followed .by delivery of alu'ede-- termined quantity or soap solution the following operations take place: The electric motor 8 is started and drives the rotary control device comprising the disc} and the record card I at a predetermined time rate until a. slot in the record card 8 registers with the lingerv terminal I! controlling the operation of the hot water supply V valve 25 whereupon thecircuit controlling the hot water supply valve is established as follows: Supply mains A; wire l0; switch plate-9; wire l; contact plate 5; finger terminal I]; wire "(the coil of magnetic control valve 43; common wire 5'! back to the supply mains A. The magnetic control valve 3 will thus be operated to supply fluid under pressure from header ll through conduit 4! to open the hot water supply valve 25.

opened to interrupt the-motor circuit by the 7 opening of one; of the relay switches ll; the-cit cult for eilecting the opening of the latter being.

as iollows;- Supply mains A; wire '81-; common lead It; the coil Hoof the appropriate relay switch 11:" lead ll: wire l2:'-nnger terminal l'l;

contact plate l; wire I: switch plate 2 and lead II to supply mains A. The hot water delivered through the open valve 2| flows through pipe 21 ferred to, drives the rotary control device at a rate corresponding with the rate of delivery of water through the motor I. *The delivery of the hot water continues until the flngertermiual I'I reaches the end of the slot in the record card,- which slot is oi a. predetermined length corresponding with a'quantity-of water slightly less than that desired for the washing step. The

circuit controlling the magnetic control valve 42 is now dlaestabllshed and-this magnetic control 3 valve moves to a position tocut of! supply of fluid under pressure to valve 26 and exhaust the conduit ll, thus valve 28 is closed and. delivery through the largerfmeter is terminated and hence the drive of the control; device by the meter is, terminated. simultaneouslyrthe'motor circuit is again established by closure of relay switch 12 due to the breaking of the circuit to the coil flu. of relay switch 11 and the motor I- again takes over the drive of the control device;

driving it at a predetermined time rate until slots in the'record-card 6 register respectively:

with the flnger terminal ll which is adapted .to-

. control the operation of the soap supply valve 22 and the linger terminal 22 adapted to control the operation of the valve 89 in the delivery pipe adjacent the outlet of the meter 2." Three oper--. ations now occur simultaneously, namely; the soap supplyvalvefl is-opened, the meter valve I It is opened and the motor circuit isagaln interrupted. The. circuit tor eifectlng the opening of the soap supply valve 22 is as follows: Supply mains A; wire ll; switch plate 9; wire 8: contact plate 5; finger terminal M; wire 59; the coil of magnetic control valve 48; common wire 21 back to supply mains A. The coil of magnetic control valve 62 is thus energised and the valve 4| is moved to connect the conduit 5| with the header 4| to supply fluid'under pressure to -open the soap supp valve 22.. The circuit which is established to effect opening of the-valve "is as follows: Supply mains A; wire ll; switch'plate 9i wire 2; contact plate 5; finger terminal 22: wire 22; the coil of magnetic control valve 2|; comthe coil of magnetic control valve'tl is energised to move the valve 9| and connect the conduit 22 mon wire 21 back to the supply mains A. Thus;

been energised by the establishment of the ,iollowing circuit: Supply mains A; wire 51; coinmon lead 1'8; the coil 11a of the appropriate relay switch 11; lead 20; wire 59; finger terminal l4; contactpl'atel'; wire 8; switch plate 2; and lead II to the supply mains A. As a result of the opening of the soap supply valve 32 andthe valve 29, the residual water left in the manifold 35 and smaller meter 2 is first delivered through this meter followed by delivery therethrough of no and actuatesthe-larger meter I which. through a the reductiongearing and free wheel clutch reso breaking the. circuit to the coil of the magnetic control valve 08 and a small quantity of residual soap solution remains in the meter and manifold. However, simultaneously with, or immediately after, the closure of the soap supply valve 32 the flush water supply valve 85 is opened under control of the control device, by the energisation of the coil of the magnetic control valve 81 due to the finger terminal 20 registering with a slot in the record card 5 to establish a circuit as follows: Supply mains A; lead l; switch plate 8; wire 8; contact plate finger terminal 20;

wire 88, the coilof magnetic control valve 81;

common wire 51 back tosupply mains A. Thus flushing water is delivered through the manifold is closed due to the circuit of the coil of the magnetic control valve 9| being broken by the finger terminal 22 moving out of contact with the plate i, and the circuit of the motor is reestablished by closure of relay switch 12 so that the motor 8 takes over the drive of the control device.

- The residual water'delivered prior to the delivcry of a solution and that delivered during flushing of the meter makes up the desired quantity for the washing step.

A series of normally open, manually operable switches 88 are mounted on the switch plate 9 and arranged one across each of the circuits controlled by the rotary control device whereby any of the operations normally controlled by the rotary control device may be effected at any time by simply closing the appropriate switch. or switches 88.

Instead ofthe valve 88 in the delivery pipe adjacent the meter 2 being directly controlled by the rotary control device this meter valve may be operated upon the establishment by the control device of any of the circuits controlling the solution supply valves or the flush water valve. Such a modified control of the meter valve is illustrated in Figure 2 in which parts correspending with those of Figure l are given the same reference numerals.

Referring. to Figure 2, four two-way, solenoid operated relayswitches 04, 85, 98 and 91 are provided, one or other of which is adapted to be operated to effect breaking of the motor circuit and opening of the meter valve 88 when any of the circuits controlling the solution valves 32, 80 and 34 or the flush water valve 85 is established' under control of the control device. Each two-way relay has one normally open contact and one normally closed contact, the normally closed contacts of the four two-way switches be-* ing in the lead 16 from the coil 14 of the motor relay switch 12 to the wire 8 and also included 15 in this lead are normally closed. one-way relay terminals l3,

switches 88 and 88. The normally open contacts of the two-way switches 04 to 81, are arranged in a lead I00 from one side of supply mains A to one side of the coil of the magnetic control valve 9| which is adapted to control the supply of fluid under pressure for operating the meter valve 80. One side of each of the operating coils IN or the relay switches 84 to 89 is connected by a common lead I02 to the wire 51 leading to one side of the supply mains A' while the other sides of these coils are respectively connected by wires I03 to I08 to the wires 58, 50, 60, 88, ii and 82 which are connected respectively with the finger l4, I5, 20, Band ll of the control device.

The operation of the modified form of the invention is the same as that described with reference to Figure 1 except for the-control of the meter valve 89. Assuming, for example, that soap solution is to be delivered the operation of the modified control is as follows: Upon the finger terminal ll, which is adapted to control the operation of the soap supply valve 32, registering with a slot in the record card 6, the soap supply valve is opened by the establishment of the circuit described with reference to Figure l which causes energisation of the coil of the magnetic control valve 48. Simultaneously therewith a circuit is established through the coil of the twoway relay switch 95 as follows: Supply mains A, wire 51, common lead I02, coil l0i of two-way relay switch 95, wire I04, wire 58, finger terminal l4, contact plate 5, wire 8, switch plate 8 and lead l0 to supply mains A. Thus, the coil ill of two-way relay switch 85 is energised' and the switch is thereby operated to close the normally open contacts and open the normally closed contacts of the latter. Opening of the normally closed contacts breaks the circuit of the coil 10 of the motor relay switch 12 which switch is thus opened and the circuit of the motor 8 is interrupted. The closure of the normally open contacts establishes the following circuit: Supply mains A, lead I00 including the closed contacts of relay switch 95 which are normally open, the coil of magnetic control valve 9! and common wire 51 back to the supply mains A. The coil of magnetic control valve 9| is thereby energised and this valve is moved to connect the conduit 80 with the fluid pressure header 42 so that the meter valve 89 is opened. As a result, the residual water left in the manifold 35 and meter 2 is first delivered through the meter followed by delivery therethrough of the soap solution, the liquid actuating the meter which takes over the drive of the control device and drives it at a rate corresponding with the rate of flow through the meter until the finger terminal H reaches the end of the slot in the record card and is moved out of contact with the plate I and thus eflects closure of the soap supply valve 82. Simultaneously with, or immediately after, the closure of the soap supply valve, the flush water supply valve 85 is opened as previously described by the establishment of a circuit through finger terminal and the coil of magnetic control valve 81 such circuit also efiecting energisation of the operating coilof the two-way relay switch 81 whereby the meter valve 89 is maintained open, or is again opened it it had been allowed to close. Subsequently, the flush water valve 85 and the meter valve 88 are closed and the motor 3 again takes over the drive of the control device.

I claim:

1. In an automatic control for washing ma-' supp y pipes.

various liquids, a supply valve in each of said a common pipe to which said supy Pipes are connected, a measuring device to which said common pipe delivers and operable by the flow of liquid therethrough, a rotary timing device for controlling the opening or said supply valves, a motor for driving said timing de-, vice at a predetermined time rate, driving means between said measuring device and said rotary timing device, means for rendering said driving motor inoperative-when a liquid delivery operation has been initiated so that the measuringdevice drives the timing device ata rate correspending with the rate 0! delivery of liquid, and" means controlled by said timing device i'or'delivering through the common pipe and the measuring device a quantity of flushing .water alter each liquid delivery operation. I

2. In an automatic control for washing machines or the like, a plurality :1 supply pipes for various liquids, a supply valve in each of said supply pipes, a common pipe to which said sup- 'ply pipes are connected, a measuring device in said common pipe and operable by the flow of liquid therethrough, a rotary timing device for controlling the opening and closing of said supply valves, to eii'ect delivery of liquid through said common pipe and said measuring device. a motor for driving said rotary timing device at a predetermined tim'e rate", driving means between saidmeasuring device, and the rotary-timing device, means for rendering the said motor inoperativewhen a liquid delivery operation has been initiated so that the measuring device drives the timing device at a rate corresponding with .the rate oi ilow oi the liquid being delivered, a water supply pipe connected with said common pipe, a water supply valve in said water supply pipe, and means under control of the rotary timing device for opening said water supply valve after each liquid delivery operation. to deliver a quantity oi flushing water through said common pipe and said measuring devi 3. In an automatic control for washing machines or the like, a plurality of supply pipes for various liquids, a supply valve in each of said supply Pip s, a common pipe to which said supply pipes deliver,-a measuring device to which said common pipe is connected and operable by the flow oi liquid therethrough,.a rotary electric switch, electric circuits controlled by said rotary electric switch for opening and closing said supply to eirect delivery of liquid through said common pipe and said measuring device, a. motor for driving said rotary electric switch at a predetermined time rate, driving means between the measuring device and the rotary electric switch, means for rendering the motor inoperative when- 7 ever a circuit for opening a-supply valve has been completed by said rotary electric switch so that the measuring device-is eilective to drive, the rotary switch at a rate corresponding with the rate of delivery of the liquid through the measuring device. and means controlled by said rotary electric switch for effecting delivery of a quantity oi flushing water through said common pipe and said measuring device after each liquid delivery 4. In an automatic control for washing machinesor the like the combination comprising a plurality of supply pipes for various liquids, a supply valve in each of said supply pipes, a common pipe to which all of said supply pipes deliver, a measuring device to which said common pipe leads and operable by the flow oi liquid measuring device, a rotary ing device takes over 'said common delivery P measuring device.

' predetermined opening said measuring device to take over l therethrough, a delivery pipe leading from said trolling the opening of said supp y valves to eirect delivery of liquid through the common pipe and the measuring device," a motor for driving said timing-device at a predetermined time rate, drivsaid measuring device and device, means for rendering ing means between said rotary timins said motor inoperative when a liquid delivery 10 the drive of the rotary tim- Y? corresponding operation has been'initiated so that the measuring devicetogdrive it at, a rate timing device for conwith the rate of delivery oi liquid, means undercontrol oi the timing device for delivering a quantity of flushing water through the common after each liquid the said delivery pipe'and the measuring device delivery operation, a valve in pipe adjacent the outlet from the measuring device, and meansior openingsaid delivery pipe valve whenever a liquid supplyvalve isopened or flushing water is delivered through said common pipe and measuring device. I

- 5. In an automatic control i'or washing machines or the like a plurality oi supply pipes for various liquids, asupply valvein'each or said supply pipes. a common pipe to which said supply pipes are connected. a measuring device to which pipe delivers, a. delivery pipe leadmeasuring device,

adjacent the outlet from the ing from said trolling the opening of said supply valves to eitect delivery of liquid through the common pipe and the measuring deviceto operate the latter, a motor for driving said the measuring deviceand'the rotary timing device, means controlled by said timing device for liquid delivery operation is initiated, and means for rendering the said motor ever aliquid supply valve is opened to permit the rotary timing device and drive sponding with the rate 0! delivery of liquid.

6. In an automatic control for washing machines or the like. the combination comprising, a

plurality of supply pipes for s o liquids, a applying M us said last-mentioned valve 'upon initiation oi delivery of liquid or flushing water through the common pipe and measuring device.

7. In an automatic control for washing ma.-

valve in the delivery pipe when a a valve lnsaid 80. a rotary timing device tor c'ontime rate, driving between chines or the like, a plurality oi liquid supplypipes for supplying various liquids, a supply valve in each of said supply pipes, a common pipe to which each oi said supply pipes deliver, a measuringdevice to which said common. pipe delivers, 'a delivery pipe leading from said measuring device, a, valve in saiddelivery pipe immedlateLv adjacent the outlet from the measuring device, a rotary electric switch, circuits controlled by said rotary electric switch for opening said supply valves to eilect'delivery of liquid electric switch at a predetermined time rate, driving means betweensaid measuring deviceand said rotary electric switch, a circuit controlled by said rotary electric switch for opening the valve chines or the like, a plurality of supply pipes for in said delivery pipe simultaneously with the closure of one oi said circuits controlling the opening or a supply valve, and means for rendering said driving motor inoperative whenever a liquid supply valve is opened to permit the measuring device to take over the drive oi the rotary electric switch'and drive it at a rate correspending with the rate of delivery of liquid.

v8. In an automatic control for washing machines or the like, a plurality of supply pipes for various liquids, 'a supply valve in each of said to which each 01 said supply pipes is connected, a measuring 'de .vice towhich said common pipe leads, a delivery pipe leading irom said measuring device, a valve in said delivery pipe immediately adjacent the outlet from said measuring device, a rotary electric switch, circuits controlled by said rotary electric switch for opening said supply valves to eflect delivery of liquid through said common pipe and said measuring device, a motor for driving said rotary electric switch at a predetermined delivery pipe valve, said through said common pipe and said measuring device,v a motor for driving the rotary time -rate,' driving means between the said measuring device and the rotary electric switch, means for rendering the motor inoperative whenever a liquid supply valve is opened so asflto permit the measuring device to drive 01 the rotary electric switch and drive it at a rate corresponding with the rate 01' delivery cit-liquid, an electric circuit for opening said last-mentioned circuit including normally open solenoid operated switches the solenoids of which are arranged one in each of said circuits controlling the opening of said supply valves whereby when a supply valve circuit is completed one of said solenoid operated switches is closed to effect closure of the circuit for opening the delivery pipe valve.

9. In an automatic control for washing mavarious liquids, a supply pipe for water, a supply valve in each of said liquid and water supply pipes, a manifold to which each oi said supply. pipes leads, a flow meter operable by the flow of liquid therethrough, a common pipe connecting said manifold and said flow meter, a delivery pipe from said flow 'meter, a valve in said delivery pipe adjacent the meter outlet, a timing device for opening said liquid and water supply valves and said valve in the meter delivery pipe at predetermined times, a motor for driving the timing device at a predetermined time rate, driving means between the flow meter and the timing device,

and means for rendering the said motor inoperativ'e whenever the timing device eiiects the opening oi one of said liquid or water supply valves so that the flow meter takes over the drive of the timing device to drive it at a rate corresponding with the rate of flow or liquid through the flow meter. r

- ALLAN PEILE BROCKBANE take over the I 

